Sheet music binder

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical array of cables that hold sheets of music in a binder are connected to and stretched along a center post mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the centerline of the spine of the binder. In use, a first sheet of music is slipped between a cable and the center post and centered behind the cable. A second sheet of music is centered behind the next adjacent cable, and so forth. Successive cables may be exposed by rotating the center post. The cables are preferably formed from elastic bands or loops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a sheet music binder and is primarilyconcerned with providing an improved binder for choral sheet music whichmay also be used for retaining sheets or the like other than choralsheet music.

A common type of sheet music binder comprises a folder having elasticbands stretched over the spine of the folder. Pieces of choral music areinserted under the sides of the elastic bands and thereby removablyretained. These are limited to holding a relatively few pieces of music.As pieces are performed they are usually removed from the binder andreplaced by other pieces. Such binders are rapidly filled and becomeawkward to use since the various pieces of music are not inserted in thefolder in an orderly fashion. Rather, each new piece is inserted wherean empty spot occurs.

An object of this invention is to provide a sheet music binder havingimproved means for removably retaining the sheets and which is soconstructed that more pieces of music can be retained without anincrease in the width of the folder than is possible with existingbinders.

A further object of this invention is to provide a music binder withwhich pieces of choral music or the like can be organized easily andconveniently, with pieces of music brought into position for sequentialuse.

In accordance with this invention, a sheet music binder comprises afolder with hinged front and rear panels and means for removablyretaining sheet music or the like in the folder including a rotatable,bracket-mounted, center post assembly centered above the panels. Acylindrical array of circumferentially spaced cables are stretched alongthe length of the center post for permitting individual pieces of sheetmusic to be slipped between the cables and the center pot for retainingthe sheet music in an organized manner.

The cables are preferably formed from plural, closed-loop elastic bandsand the center post assembly preferably has first and second sets ofcircumferentially spaced pins or tangs at its opposite ends about whichthe elastic bands are hooked.

In a preferred embodiment, the center post assembly comprises anelongate, preferably hollow, tubular center post and a pair of end capsnon-rotatably mounted on each end of the center post. The center postassembly is supported in the folder by a pair of mounting bracketshaving mutually aligned stub axles for rotatably mounting the end caps.Each of the end caps has an opening rotatably receiving one of the stubaxles so that the center post assembly can rotate relative to saidmounting brackets. The end caps, which include the tangs for the elasticbands, can be an inexpensive, one-piece molded plastic body, as can eachof the mounting brackets. The mounting brackets may be connected to thefolder by screws or brads or other suitable fastening means. Thepresently preferred practice is to mount the brackets by double-sided,pressure-sensitive adhesive tape.

A music binder of this invention is ideally suited for holding a stackof sheet music for use by choir members, such as church choir members,that practice and perform choral numbers in a predetermined order. Aseach piece is performed, that piece may be removed from the folder sothat the uppermost piece will be the next one to be performed. At thesame time, the center post assembly may be rotated to permit theintroduction of a new piece at the lowest end of the stack.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet music binder in accordance withthis invention, shown closed, with sheet music retained in the binder.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet music binder of FIG. 1, shownopen, and the retained sheet music.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the sheet musicbinder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet music binder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet music binder taken alongline 5--5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a sheet music binder,generally designated 10, for removably retaining music sheets or thelike for sequential use in accordance with this invention is shownclosed in FIG. 1 and open in FIG. 2. Binder 10 comprises a folder 12having a front panel 14 and a rear panel 16 hinged to a center spine 18.

For purposes of the following description and the claims, the terms"inner" and "outer," "front" and "rear," "vertical" and "horizontal,"and "upper" and "lower" are used in a relative and not an absolutesense. The binder 10 is deemed to be in an upright or verticalorientation in FIG. 1 and the aforementioned relative terms are usedwith reference to the positions or locations of parts as shown inFIG. 1. For convenience of description, the vertical centerline TC ofthe spine 18 is termed the "transverse centerline."

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, as common in folders of various kinds,the folder 12 may comprise a jacket made from inner and outer sheets, 20and 22, respectively, of vinyl or other suitable plastic, joined alongtheir edges as shown at 24 and stiffened by pressboard or other partlyrigid plates 26. As shown in FIG. 5, the hinges, designated 28, betweenthe folder panels 14 and 16 and the spine 18 are formed by mutuallyadhered strips of the inner and outer sheets spanning the spine 18. Itis to be understood that this invention is not concerned with the mannerin which the folder 12 is made and constructions other than thatillustrated and described herein are possible.

In accordance with this invention, a sheet music retaining assembly,generally designated 30, is provided having a center post assembly,generally designated 32, and a pair of mounting brackets, namely anupper mounting bracket 34 and a lower mounting bracket 36. Mountingbrackets 34 and 36 are of mutually identical constructions. The uppermounting bracket 34 comprises a generally L-shaped body having a base orvertical leg 38 joining at a right angle to a horizontal leg 40. Gussets42 may be provided to add strength to the brackets 34 and 36. A stubaxle 44 projects from the included or inner face of the horizontal leg40 along an axis parallel to the base leg 38. Since the lower mountingbracket 36 has the same construction as the upper mounting bracket 34,like reference numbers are applied to like parts.

Double-sided, pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets 50 and 52 are used toattach the mounting brackets 34 and 36 to the inner face of the spine 18at the upper and lower ends thereof, with their respective stub axles 44mutually confronting and aligned, to thereby establish a centerline CLabout which the center post assembly 32 may rotate. As apparent, thecenterline CL is inwardly spaced from and parallel to the transversecenterline TC. Further, the entire retaining assembly 30 is locatedbetween the front and rear folder panels 14 and 16 when the binder 10 isclosed as shown in FIG. 1, so that the retaining assembly 30 does notinterfere with the closing of the binder 10.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the center post assembly 32 comprisesan elongate, hollow, tubular, center post 54 and a pair of end caps 56and 58. End caps 56 and 58 are of mutually identical construction. Eachpreferably comprises a single or one-piece molded plastic body formedwith an inwardly extending cylindrical hub 60 having an outer diameterof such dimension that it snugly fits within the hollow interior of thecenter post 54. Each end cap 56 and 58 also has an outwardly extendingbearing sleeve 62 that has an internal diameter slightly greater thanthe external diameter of the stub axles 44 upon which the sleeves 62,and thereby the entire center post assembly 32, are journalled forrotation.

The opposite ends 60 and 62 of each end cap 56 and 58 are separated by aring-shaped center disk 66 which on its inner face, has a key 68overlying the hub 60, the key 68 cooperating with a slot 70 in the endof the center post 54 to prevent relative rotation between the end caps56 and 58 and the center post 54.

In order to removably clamp sheets of music, such as those designated 72in the drawings, plural pins or tangs 74 project longitudinally of thecenter post assembly 32 from the outer face of the disk 66 in acylindrical array surrounding the bearing sleeve 62. Plural, closed-loopelastic bands 76 are stretched along the center post 54 with their endshooked about the pins or tangs 74. Since the end caps that carry thetangs 74 are keyed to the center post 54, the tangs 74 of the oppositeend caps 56 and 58 are maintained in alignment so that the oppositesides of each elastic loop 76 extend in a straight line along theoutside of the center post 54.

The materials used to form the retaining assembly 30 are not critical.PVC, ABS, or polypropylene may be used to form the support brackets 34and 36, the center post 54, and the end caps 56 and 58. ABS is thepresent material of choice for the molded parts 34, 36, 56, and 58. PVCwater pipe, which is both inexpensive and conveniently available, may beused for the center post 54. A conventional and convenient sized binderhas front and rear panels which are 111/2 inches by 71/2 inches with aone inch wide spine. In such cases the center post may have a length of103/4 inches and an outer diameter of 5/8 inch. The elastic bands 76 maybe rubber or other bands, but braided elastic is preferred. Bands madefrom elastic strip having an unstretched length of 141/2 inches havebeen found satisfactory. As an alternative, the cables could be formedfrom one or more strands of elastic tied at its ends to one or moretangs 74 and coursed back and forth along the length of the center post54 and around successsive ones of the tangs 74.

It is believed that the manner of using this invention will beunderstood from the foregoing description. Briefly, individual pieces ofchoral music are inserted under a single cable formed by one side of oneof the elastic bands 76, by which they are clamped to the outer surfaceof the center post 54. As each piece is performed, that piece may beremoved from the binder 10 so that the uppermost piece will typically bethe next one to be performed. At any time, the center post assembly 30may be rotated to permit the insertion of a new piece at the lowest endof the stack, so that pieces which are to be practiced and thenperformed at a later date may be inserted in the sequence in which theyare to be performed. Another advantage of having a center post is thatthe cables formed by the elastic bands are in a circular array, asopposed to the more typical planar array, so that more cables areavailable, without crowding, to hold the pieces of music for a givenwidth of the spine 18.

The pieces of music, which may include one or several sheets 72, do nothave to be tightly clamped. Accordingly, the elastic bands 76 do nothave to be stretched so tight that they would break easily. While othercable-forming means may be employed, the use of elastic bands ispreferred because they are inexpensive and readily replaceable in theevent of breakage.

Although the presently preferred embodiment of this invention has beendescribed, various changes may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A binder for sheet music comprising:a folder of the typehaving hinged front and rear panels and a centerline extending from thetop to the bottom thereof; a center post assembly; means mounting saidcenter post assembly for rotation relative to said folder about an axisparallel to said centerline and spaced inwardly of said panels; andmeans for holding sheet music on said center post assembly.
 2. A musicbinder as recited in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises pluralcables extending along said center post assembly whereby individualpieces of sheet music may be slipped between said cables and said centerpost assembly for retaining said sheets in an organized manner.
 3. Amusic binder as recited in claim 2 wherein said cables comprise pluralelastic bands.
 4. A music binder as recited in claim 2 wherein saidcables are arranged in a cylindrical array.
 5. A music binder as recitedin claim 2 wherein said center post assembly has a first set ofcircumferentially spaced tangs at one end thereof and a second set ofcircumferentially spaced tangs at the other end thereof, and whereinsaid cables are connected to said tangs.
 6. A music binder as recited inclaim 1 wherein said means mounting said center post assembly forrotation comprises a pair of mounting brackets each having a mountingsurface with means for rotatably supporting the ends of said center postassembly, and means connecting said brackets to said folder with saidmounting surfaces facing one another.
 7. A music binder as recited inclaim 6 wherein said holding means comprises plural cables extendingalong said center post assembly whereby individual pieces of sheet musicmay be slipped between said cables and said center post assembly forretaining said sheets in an organized manner.
 8. A music binder asrecited in claim 7 wherein said cables are arranged in a cylindricalarray.
 9. A music binder as recited in claim 7 wherein said center postassembly has a first set of circumferentially spaced tangs at one endthereof and a second set of circumferentially spaced tangs at the otherend thereof, and wherein said cables are connected to said tangs.
 10. Amusic binder as recited in claim 6 wherein said center post assemblycomprises an elongate tubular center post and a pair of end capsnon-rotatably mounted on each end of said center post, said means forrotatably supporting the ends of said center post assembly comprising astub axle and each of said end caps having an opening rotatablyreceiving one of said stub axles so that said center post assembly canrotate relative to said mounting brackets.
 11. A music binder as recitedin claim 10 wherein said center post assembly has a first set ofcircumferentially spaced tangs at one end thereof and a second set ofcircumferentially spaced tangs at the other end thereof, and whereinsaid cables are connected to said tangs.
 12. A music binder as recitedin claim 11 wherein said tangs are on said end caps.
 13. A music binderas recited in claim 12 wherein said end caps including said tangs are ofa one-piece molded plastic construction.